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File this one under "What were they thinking?"
Sens. Derek Schmidt, Jay Emler and Les Donovan are proposing a new program to let tax cheats pay their back taxes without any penalties. The Department of Revenue says the bill will add $22 million to help the state's budget problems. I don't know if the bill has a name yet, but I propose calling it the Sebelius/Daschle Act of 2009.
If that many Kansans owe back taxes, here's a plan, make them pay their back taxes! How's that for a plan? These three Republican's remind me of Oliver Twist. "Please tax cheats, would you please pay up your taxes? We've spent and spent and now we'd like some more please!"
What a joke. The state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem and our legislators would be wise to realize which side of the equation they need to focus on.
Separate from the budget issue is how this looks to those of us who actually file and pay our taxes on time. Why go to the trouble if Senators like Schmidt, Emler and Donovan are just going to bail you out when they decide they really need the money? This is nothing more than legalized tax amnesty on the Obama cabinet nominee level.
If these three stooges want tax cheats to pay their bill, then they should pay interest to those of us who paid up for the time they government had control of our money. After all, I could have instead taken those tax payments and invested them in a bank CD or something and made a little cash before I forked it over to the state for them to waste.
I wonder how much the state would net if they had to pay back interest to every taxpayer that paid on time?
Legislators will return tomorrow to try and fix their spending problem from the past four plus years and they'll be looking partially to gambling revenue to do it. That is, of course, if there is any gambling revenue.
It looks as though Missouri is also having a hard time getting their fair share of gambling dollars. Voters approved a proposition in November that repealed the state's loss limit within a two hour period and hiked the state's share of revenues. According to the Kansas City Star, the measure was expected to bring in $100 to $130 million in new cash to the state.
Too bad that's not how it work out. Turns out Missouri is only going to see $30 million this year. The Missouri proposal was passed because the money was supposed to go to schools. It's all for the kids, don't you know?
So how exactly do legislators here in Kansas expect to close their budget problem with gambling revenue when the only gambling zone that is actually building a casino is in Dodge City? I assume the $50 million figure being thrown around is from privilege fees companies would have to pay upfront to be able to build and manage the casino. The southeast gambling zone has gone through two lettings without getting a commitment to build from anyone. Are legislators betting on funny money to close the gap?
That's what it looks like to me.
Americans for Prosperity Kansas is holding a "TEE" Party at the statehouse this Thursday. AFP wants as many people as possible to go to the Capital Thursday for the second day of the wrap up session. If you can't attend, make some calls!
Here's the itinerary:
- 10 a.m. -- Meet at Dillon House (404 SW 9th St., just west of the Statehouse) for a briefing on the Kansas state budget. AFP will provide talking points, legislative contacts and other materials, before we head over to the Statehouse to talk with legislators.
- 12 p.m. -- Box lunches will be provided at Dillon House
- 1 p.m. -- We will go back to the Capitol to continue lobbying one-on-one with individual legislators
- 4 p.m. – Dismiss
No signs will be allowed in the Capital, which is why this will be a TEE Party instead of a TEA Party. If you have a T-Shirt you'd like to make to wear, feel free to do so. AFP will have some shirts there for you to decorate if you don't have the time.
If you're not able to come all day, just stop by for the time that you can. I know that's the biggest block to conservatives, isn't it? We just have to... work. It really gets in the way of going to TEA Parties and speaking with legislators, doesn't it?
AFP has arranged for buses from Wichita and Johnson County if you can't afford to make the trip. Go to AFP's homepage to register, even if you don't plan to use one of the buses. There's no charge to attend and lunch will be provided.
File this one under "What were they thinking?"
